12-05-2025
15 of the best things to do in Cork
This little city by the sea on Ireland's south coast has long been one of the country's most charming spots. With church spires and pastel-coloured townhouses lining the sloped streets, and cool riverside cafés and pubs where the sound of traditional music seeps out, Cork has all the hotspots of a big city but the heart of a small town. It's home to one of the oldest covered markets in Europe, as well as plenty of historic sights, but there has also been a flurry of cool new openings, from street-food markets in industrial spaces to trendy treehouse suites overlooking the city.
And while Cork has plenty to offer, there's also a lot to see just a short train ride away — in less than half an hour, you can be in the pretty seaside town of Cobh, or Midleton, the distillery capital of Ireland. Here are some reasons to fall in love with Ireland's second city.
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There are several decent cocktail bars in Cork, but few are as picturesque as the Glasshouse in the Montenotte hotel. Hidden in the gardens at the back of the property, the vibrant, botanically themed bar has great views out over the river and the city, with a menu of expertly made cocktails whipped up with the likes of jalapeño syrup, spritzes of rose perfume and the hotel's very own gin. If you really want to go wild, treat yourself to a stay in the new Woodland suites — standalone structures in the trees with freestanding baths and champagne on arrival.
If you're a whiskey fan, a pilgrimage out to the nearby village of Midleton is a must. While many head to the Jameson Distillery Bow St in Dublin, they haven't actually made a drop there in decades — all their whiskeys are made here, at the Midleton Distillery. It's a gorgeous building, and you can take tours, a cocktail-making class or book a more exclusive tasting, where you can sip their most premium spirits. It's about 30 minutes from the city by train, and if you visit on a Saturday you can also tag on the town's charming farmer's market.
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This 19th-century prison makes for an interesting, if spooky, few hours. It's a striking building, which the revolutionary Countess Markievicz described as the most comfortable jail she'd ever been in, and on a self-guided visit you can wander around the corridors, learn about the various prisoners from the guidebook provided, and even be locked into one of the cells. Staff are dotted throughout to offer a bit more detail, but if you do want a guided tour, they run every day at 2pm.
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One of the biggest natural harbours in the world, Cork Harbour links the city to the sea by way of the River Lee. Hop on a tour with Cork Harbour Cruises and you can tick off heaps of waterside sights in a couple of hours, including Blackrock Castle Observatory and Fota Island, all the way out to the enviable houses lining the shore at Passage West. The trips depart from the city centre, and you can take a sunset tour to add a little romance to proceedings.
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It's been on the go since 1788, and as such, the English Market is a much-loved landmark in the city. It's more of a produce market than a place to eat, but you can wander around to pick up homemade breads and local cheeses for a picnic, or head up to Farmgate Café for a top-notch meal made with local ingredients — there's some excellent people-watching to be found on the balcony, too. Keep in mind that the café is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Tag along on a culinary tour of Cork that takes in the English Market as well as Coal Quay Market.
It may not have the showstopping architecture or curation of Titanic Belfast, but the tiny Titanic Experience Cobh is quaintly fascinating. This was the final port of call for the ill-fated liner, and on a guided tour you hear stories of the people who set sail from this very spot. Your ticket, designed to look like a boarding pass, displays the name of a real passenger — at the end you learn whether or not they survived. Cobh is less than half an hour from the city centre by train, and it's a pretty place for a stroll, too.
Greenways are a big deal in Ireland, and this one is a cracker. Following the decommissioned tramline from the docklands out to Mahon, this two-mile walking and bike trail is traffic-free, easy to follow and scenic, leading you past Blackrock Castle Observatory and along the edge of the River Lee. You can rent bikes from the start of the Greenway or get one of the TFI Bikes from within the city.
Once an 18th-century convent where Nano Nagle secretly opened a school for the poor (illegal under the Penal Laws), this museum is now dedicated to her trailblazing ways but also celebrates contemporary art and design. The centre (and its Georgian architecture) is beautiful, but the gardens are a real highlight, as is the Good Day Deli, with gorgeous views over the plants and flowers through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows.
Corkonians may claim that Murphy's is the local brew (you'll see it far more than Guinness) but beer from the Franciscan Well is the true star of the show. One of Ireland's oldest microbreweries, once run by Franciscan monks, it's now a cool 'brewpub' with live music, loads of craft beers on tap and a big outdoor area within the old monastery walls. You can take a tour of the brewery and learn how to pull your own pint, and when you're sick of beer there's a cosy cocktail bar upstairs.
If you like a root around a flea market, head to Mother Jones where every nook and cranny is filled with a combination of antique furniture, vintage clothing and ramshackle oddities. There are old Irish road signs, ceramic beer jugs and piles of tattered postcards, and it's a dream for magpies. The rest of the neighbourhood, the Victorian Quarter, is great for a wander, too — browse the vinyl at the Thirty Three RPM record store or get a homemade bagel at 5 Points.
A one-stop shop for anything artsy, the Triskel is the place to go to catch live music, watch the latest indie movie or check out an art installation. Set in a Georgian church in the middle of town, the main auditorium is a dramatic space with a soaring vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows. There's a jam-packed schedule of performances throughout the year, particularly during the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, held every October.
While the (excellent) Crawford Art Gallery is closed for a refurbishment, the Glucksman is the leading art spot in the city. And it's a great gallery, with an impressive limestone and steel exterior and a heap of contemporary art inside. When you've had your fill of the exhibits, head through Fitzgerald Park to see the sculptures and Sky Garden but also Daly's Bridge, known locally as the Shakey Bridge — walk over it and you'll see why.
The docklands have had a good bit of regeneration and one of the best developments is Marina Market. Inside this industrial warehouse there are more than 35 street-food vendors selling everything from acai bowls and mini doughnuts to Korean BBQ and rotisserie chicken. There's a ramshackle vibe to the seating, but make a beeline for the comfy, battered couches or head to the live street art section at the back. It's worth keeping an eye on the event calendar for pop-up film screenings or wine tastings.
The sign at the front of the Hibernian Bar (known locally as the Hi-B) makes its manifesto clear — 'No mobile phones allowed. Please talk to each other'. Having a pint here is like having a drink 20 years ago, when people would prop themselves up at the bar and look around, rather than down at a device. The pub is small and far from chic, but it's a great spot for a proper pint or a whiskey by the fire.
you've ever fancied yourself as a bellringer, head to St Anne's Church in the northern neighbourhood of Shandon, where you can ring the chapel's ancient bells — after learning how to do it properly, of course. When you're finished with your lesson, head up the (very) narrow and winding staircase to the top of the Bell Tower, where you'll be met with epic views of the city (and screaming thighs).
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